Will There Be a Reward for Us?

Allah (swt) tells us that when the magicians came and had their first meeting with Firʿawn — the magicians were gathered from all over Egypt — when they were brought and had their first meeting with Firʿawn, what did they say? What was the first thing the magicians told Firʿawn when they met with him?

In their first meeting with Firʿawn they said: will there surely be a reward for us if we are the victors? So they were in it for the money. That is why they came: they wanted the reward. And what did Firʿawn say? Yes, and you will also be close to me. So Firʿawn was not only going to give them wealth; he was going to give them power and position. They came for a small worldly gain.

And when they went out into the field, it is said — Ibn Kathīr says — that these magicians stood up and threw their sticks and their ropes, and they were chanting: bi-ʿizzati Firʿawna innā la-naḥnu al-ghālibūn — in the name of Firʿawn, we are going to win; in the name of Firʿawn, we are going to win. And they were chanting these words.